Wesley Clifton Borgeson

Military

The Prisoner of War Medal is a military award of the United States armed forces which was authorized by Congress and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on 8 November 1985. The United States Code citation for the POW Medal statute is 10 U.S.C. § 1128
Source of image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoner_of_War_Medal#/media/File:POWM.jpg

Wesley C. Borgeson (Wes) B-17 Tail Gunner, USAAF 8th AF, 384th BG, 545th BS, Grafton-Underwood, England. On 30 November 1944, his B-17 was blown apart and he rode the tail section from 27,500 feet to the ground and survived. He was one of three on a crew of eight to survive. POW. See his terrific You Tube video and his 8th AFHS-MN webpage athttps://sites.google.com/site/8thafhsmn/pictures/wesley-borgeson-b-17-ta...
See the online chapter in "Brothers of the Air" pp. 59-70 about Wes Borgeson's incredible experience as a tail gunner and POW. He described his experiences to the 8th AFHS-Mn at a luncheon. There is a written transcript of this presentation.
To read another account of his time in service, with photos, see Don Ward’s book, The Greatest Generation of Silver Wings (2004) pp. 97-102. ISBN 0-9654964-0-8. The Memorial Press.

Shot down 30 November 1944 in B-17 #44-8409. Prisoner of War (POW).
Missing Air Crew Report 11128.

Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 384th Bomb GroupShot down on his first mission, 30 November 1944 in B-17 #44-8409. Prisoner of War (POW) in Stalag Luft 1 Barth-Vogelsang Prussia. MACR# 11128
POW

Military | Sergeant | Radio Operator | 384th Bomb GroupShot down on 30 November 1944 (his 3rd mission) in B-17 #44-8409. Prisoner of War (POW). at Stalag Luft 1 at Barth, Germany for 8 months. He was one of three survivors of the crash.
POW

Units served with

GroupThe 384th Bomb Group flew B-17s from Grafton Underwood, Northamptonshire, between May 1943 and June 1945. They were engaged in daylight bombing missions over Germany as part of the Allies' efforts to destroy the effectiveness of the Luftwaffe by...

Missions

Associated Place

Military site : airfieldGrafton Underwood was built in 1941 by George Wimpey and Co. Ltd. It was the first airfield in England to receive an Eighth Air Force flying unit, when in May 1942 personnel of the 15th Bomb Squadron took up residence. As a satellite airfield for...